The University of Kentucky swimming program signed six female swimmers to national letters of intent during the fall signing period. The Kentucky Class of 2008 includes Blair Barrett of Carmel Swim Club, Carmel, Ind. (backstroke); twins Heather and Jennifer Bradford of Greater Columbus Swim Team, Groveport, Ohio (sprint freestyle, butterfly); Archer Davis of Terre Haute Torpedoes, Paris, Ill. (middle distance freestyle, butterfly); Kelley Morrison of Rockwood Swim Club, Wildwood, Mo. (sprint freestyle) and Lindsay Myhre of Aurora, Colo. (sprint freestyle, breaststroke).
UK Coach Gary Conelly sees bright futures ahead for the new corps of Wildcats.
?We are very excited about our fall signees. This group will help to strengthen and give depth to our team in the critical areas of sprint free and butterfly. The addition of Lindsay Myhre to our breast stroke corps will give us a potent 1-2-3 punch in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke.
?Our first-ever set of female twins, Heather and Jennifer Bradford, are going to surprise a lot of people. They are quick now but they are the sort of athletes who will really take off in college. Kelley Morrison is going to make an immediate impact for us in the sprint area elevating our individual and relay swims. Blair Barrett and Archer Davis will give us much needed depth in several events. If spring signing goes as well as the fall, we will be in great shape next year,? Conelly said.
Cruz, Manley Tally Top-Five Times
Junior Daniel Cruz?s record-setting times in the 100 and 200-yard butterfly events at last month’s Nike Cup in Chapel Hill, N.C. are among the fastest in the country. Cruz?s school-record time of 47.89 in the 100 is fourth-fastest time this season, while his school-record time of 1:44.79 in the 200 is good for second, nationally.
Also at the Nike Cup, sophomore Steven Manley recorded a 200-yard freestyle time of 1:37.25, good for fifth, nationally. Below is a listing of Kentucky swim times featured among the nation?s best, as of Nov. 25, 2003.
Men
50 Free – 33rd – Daniel Farnham ? 19.69, 35th – Tim Patrick-20.66, 41st – Clay Gasparovich – 20.69
100 Free – 27th – Daniel Farnham – 45.08
200 Free – 5th – Steven Manley – 1:37.25
500 Free – 10th – Steven Manley – 4:23.49
200 Back – 40th – Jerram Chudleigh – 1:49.32
100 Butterfly – 4th – Daniel Cruz – 47.89 (new team record)
200 Butterfly – 2nd – Daniel Cruz 1:44.79 (new team record), 27th – Jerram Chudleigh – 1:49.48
200 IM – 31st – Steven Manley – 1:51.15, 42nd – Jerram Chudleigh 1:51.56, 50th – Daniel Cruz – 1:52.00
200 Free Relay – 8th – 1:21.26 -Daniel Farnham, Fernando Barros, Tim Patrick, Clay Gasparovich
400 Free Relay – 13th – 3:00.90 – Daniel Farnham, Daniel Cruz, Tim Patrick, Steven Manley
800 Free Relay – 7th – 6:40.41 – Daniel Farnham, Daniel Cruz, Jerram Chudleigh, Steven Manley
200 Medley Relay – 23rd – 1:31.47 – Fernando Barros, Steven Manley, Daniel Cruz, Daniel Farnham
400 Medley Relay – 17th – 3:20.92 – Fernando Barros, Steven Manley, Daniel Cruz, Daniel Farnham
Women
1650 Free – 26th – Brennan Moore – 16:49.83
100 Back – 12th – Jessica Siegele – 55.59
100 Breast – 25th – Laura Graham – 1:03.63
200 Breast – 17th – Laura Graham – 2:16.60
400 IM – 27th – Brennan Moore – 4:20.23
200 Free Relay – 41st -1:36.68 – Jessica Siegele, Nikia Deveaux, Marci Vrooman, JoAnna McLean
800 Free Relay – 43rd -7:40.56 – Amanda Bourgeois, Shawna Sechrist, Brennan Moore, Jessica Siegele
200 Medley Relay – 45th -1:46.85 – Jessica Siegele, Laura Graham, Marci Vrooman, JoAnna McLean
400 Medley Relay – 38th 3:52.10 – Jessica Siegele, Laura Graham, Shantel Commander, JoAnna McLean
Manley Competing in European Championships
With the Cats? 2003 fall schedule having come to a close, sophomore Steven Manley has returned to his native Ireland to compete in the European Short Course Championships. Manley will compete from Thursday, Dec. 11 through Sunday, Dec. 14 in the 100, 200 and 400-yard freestyle events and the 100-yard individual medley.
UK Men Ranked 22nd
The Kentucky men?s swim squad has the No. 22 slot in the latest rankings released by the College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). The Cats have spent a full month in the CSCAA Top 25 after victories over Indiana and Louisville and a strong showing at the Nike Cup.
